Full Transcript: Solomon McCormick on His Career with the Hamtramck Police Department
Interviewer: So when did you become a police detective?
Solomon: Well that was in 58. The Ford Motor Company had been kind to me by giving me a job. Between the—1949 and then when I went away to the service again, and I did come back, they were kind enough to give me the job back and I had a very good experience with it. I mean it wasn’t a one way street - I worked for them, they paid me well, I was comfortable with that. And I probably had the best job that one can have in a factory. And that best job— any teenager, any young man would love it. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen an assembly line where you travel the assembly line and the cars go down the line, everybody puts on a part and at the end of that line— listen to this— it was my job to climb into the driver’s seat and drive it off the line. Can you ask for better than that?
Solomon: Now, having done that for a while, at the Lincoln Mercury Company which was located on the corner of Warren and Livernois here in the city, there was a track in back of the factory where they tested every car that they built and there was a— all of the inspectors would lay their sheets on the windshield and an inspector would drive your car around the track, point out all of the shortcomings, and park it. Well, strangely enough I got attached to an old man who had been there for a long time and just for respect I had for him, I was his driver. You can’t ask for better than that. Now then, after I went to service, Korea, I came back. They had moved that factory to Wayne, Michigan. And they were kind enough again to give me a job. There I worked putting in the interior, referred to as trim. I did them a good job and they respected my input and consequently we were each satisfied with the exchange until a few years later. My boss, who depended on me— and I know that he did, with every possible respect, we had a respect for each other— my floor man was being upgraded to Superintendent, ok? So there was a vacancy, his spot, which was up from my spot. I made an application for that job and that went back and forth and back and forth and they wind up hiring a guy from the outside. And it didn’t set well with me because they, they brought in the racial situation of it all. My— the guy that was leaving whom I had worked for for a long time and knew that I knew exactly what was necessary because I had advised him a number of times and responded to his requests for information for periods of time— knew what was going on, in my opinion participated in it. And the other guy got the job, and they brought him to me to train. I walked away. And that’s how I decided to take that application in Hamtramck.
Interviewer: So the other person that got the job was white?
Solomon: Yeah, white and dumb. He, he was from the outside. I’m not saying he was an ignorant fella. I’m saying— we’re talking about the job. He did not have what was necessary for that job at that time and they depended on me to carry the weight. Well, I walked away. Even with nothing, I walked away. I wasn’t going to go that route.
Interviewer: Did you to try to fight for the position or say that— argue with the…?
Solomon: No because I knew everybody there, everybody knew me. The idea run to the union and some point organization and jumping through some hoop— well, you know, I was not the smartest guy in the world but I was comfortable with my ability.
Interviewer: So what did you do next then after that for work?
Solomon: I took the job in Hamtramck. I went there. It was different for me, extremely different. I knew no one there but Edna and her family, no one. So I went and made application for the job, for firefighter. Repeating, I had been a fire chief and I knew that you’re given tests repeatedly and all those days when I said, you know you sat around, you didn’t just sit around, you went to the river with the fire truck and you [?] the hoses and you did all those things and I believe it was the University of Oklahoma was the mecca then for information for firefighters in the world. So I went through all of that bit and was comfortable with my ability to succeed in that area. So I went, made application for the job and making application that was the guy in charge whose name was Pete Walker. I won’t give an opinion on the guy but he’d been there for a long time, he was established and you have to respect that. Well he advised me that the city of Hamtramck had no black firefighters. He didn't know how the guys at the fire house— very words— he didn't know how the guys at the fire house would respond to it. I gave him time to think about it and thanked him and advised him that that would not be the end of that. Then he volunteered information about the police department. We are giving the exam that you— that I’m aware of, that brought me there, on the very same day, giving an exam for the police department. Why didn’t I consider taking that exam? Well if its available I’ll take it, but I’ll take the fire department as well. Sure enough down the line I got a card in the mail making these exams available to me at the Hamtramck High School on a Saturday morning. I responded to it surprised as hell that there were 500 guys there. I looked around for faces that I may recognize, found none. I went in to take the exam, I took a seat along with everyone else and wasn’t long after spiel from the guy at the front, after his talk he stated that they were going to pass out the packets, no one touch it, when he said go, open it up, we have two hours, we have the gym for two hours. And they started passing out the packets. Please recall I had made application for the fire department and the police department. Well the police department came by and— well you know what exams look like, civil service exams, probably far more streamlined today than then. Well I got one from the police department and I looked into it and bang there was another one from the fire department. Well, theres nothing for me to do but get the attention of the guy in front. He had noted that we had two hours. And there was a chatter around the room and when it quieted down he repeated his statement, we have two hours. So everyone else is working, I took the fire department and went through it. I was comfortable with it. Not only had I taken classes, I had worked— I had taught classes. So I went though it, put it aside, went through the Police which was a little strange and put it aside, went back and checked through the fire department again. And by this time the room is thinning out naturally so I took them both in hand and carried them to the front to him. I passed them to him and I left. Well if you're not familiar with it theres a series of examinations— you have an oral following that, you have a physical following that, you know you got to carry the— climb the rope, carry the 100lb sand bag, carry a person, all of that stuff. So I went through the whole thing. Strangely enough, I came around when all of the scores were in, in the police department, I was number seven— remember the 500 plus? Now I know there were 400 plus for the police department but the fire department I was number three. So I felt that I had successfully maneuvered that scale that they had set. Now comes the shocker for you. They hired four police officers, acceptable, then they hired three more police officers. I was not one of them. Fire department, remember that I was number three? They hired two. I went into the city commission and my approach to him was, “Are you aware of what has transpired here?” And he, well he went into the conversation in which I listened and when he was finished I advised him or informed him of my reason for being there and that basic reason was that he just be aware that I was aware that I was passed over. And I left. Two weeks later, I was contacted, called in, offered the job. And at that point in time their question was, “Do you still want the job? We’ve painted the picture for you here. Do you want to leave whatever you have and come here?” Well, I assured him that I wanted the job and whatever was going to be necessary then that is what I was going to do. I had a family and I needed to support for my family.
Interviewer: So then did you start shortly after that?
Solomon: Yes. Yes. Yes, there were some quirks, there was some understanding. Fortunately, I made a friend a little further down the road, but I’m indebted to him today, I’m indebted to him today. His name was Walter Belarc and I don't have a problem putting his name out there because a very strange situation happened to Walter. Long story, the friendship thing, and it wasn't so much of a buddy-buddy relationship as it was he came to rely on me to advise him in his plight because he's gotten his derriere in hot water and they were treating him like a black. And he, he relied on me for direction and in exchange he shared with me their intent and their maneuvering, maneuver plans and consequently saying this was the first time ever I was able to stay one step ahead of them. Everybody knew what was going on just no one was in a position to do anything about it and there was such a cohesive cut of politics that staying ahead of it was not easy. I don't know, the word may be cunning or taking advantage of information that was fed to me.
Interviewer: Ultimately you felt that the goal— they were trying to force you out, so that you wouldn’t be on the force?
Solomon: Oh yes, that was— for the first six months, you have no union, you have no recourse and this is where Mr. Belarc came into play with me and I decided to do whatever was necessary to do that six months.
Interviewer: So then what was your position on the force?
Solomon: When I retired?
Interviewer: Yeah.
Solomon: Chief of Detectives.
Interviewer: And what did you start as?
Solomon: Patrolman, naturally.
Solomon: Change came with me and people like me climbing the ladder and seeing and knowing what was transpiring and not tolerating it— simple as that. And again I got a few promotions and I was in position to make some changes and influence some changes and consequently things ran a bit different.
There were conflicts all over the place but being absolutely frank with you there was so much ignorance going on and everyone, everyone wants their plan to work and their little squad over here and their one politician who couldn't find his ass in broad daylight with both hands playing his little part, they were always fighting for the promotion or the accolades, always. And that wasn't black and white, I’m talking about the whites because thats basically what it was. There were a lot of blacks there that seemed to accept the status quo. They had done favors for people and people had done favors for them and their parents and other friends had contributed, doing political scenes, etc. and they were quote “proudest” and they respected a return on the investment so thats basically the way that that went.
Solomon: It was somewhat a chaotic position to have but long before I was in any degree of authority, Hamtramck was a world pit, biggest criminals in the country: the liquor runners and the dope runners and all of that big stuff was here from Chicago and just south of Hamtramck in Detroit was prevalent.
Interviewer: Was there good relationships between the police officers and the people of Hamtramck?
Solomon: When I was there the answer is basically yes. In my later years, when I was basically in charge, we had an excellent relationship, excellent, I repeat. And I keep a post office in Hamtramck, I’m a resident there, and I’m confronted in the post office, on the street, etc. with all the people telling me its not what it was when you were here. And today I see it growing in the other direction. Its a sad situation because they have such a mix, they have such a mix of nationalities and personalities there that it is difficult, it is difficult for the authorities to get a handle on. One incident, I can say that clearly because I was the investigator, an assault around Dorothy and Conant. I wont go into specifics. A guy found a guy, he had never seen him before, killed him. I did the investigation, I know. The big thing there was he was avenging a fight that his grandfather had with the other guys grandfather. That kind of thing still goes on in that area. So when you talk about policing a variety of personalities and backgrounds, this is the kind of thing you come up with that is very difficult to get a handle on.
The changes are you are not comfortable as you once were. If they call the police department and ask to speak with Detective McCormick, I can give them a time to come see me, or if it was uncomfortable all around we would agree on a place to meet and speak sincerely and openly. I don’t believe the personnel there have that camaraderie anymore. Policing is not easy. You got to be open and you got to be stern, may sound a little difficult but do what you say you're going to do and if you cant do it, deliver the message. I find myself in difficulty, I need more information, or please take note of what I said and weigh it out.
Everything that I’ve said is 99 percent about white folks because there were 99 percent white folks there. This is, this is not a, this is not a racial divide, we’re talking about Hamtramck.
Interviewer: What was it like for you in your life to go from being passed over for getting the job on the police force to becoming such a high position and being the authority?
Solomon: I didn't let that bother me. I realized who and what I was working with and at a later time I came to understand that I had the upper hand and theres no need to beat the dead horse. Now that I'm in the lead, all you can do is follow. I’m not a vindictive person but I, you know, I was in charge and now I was in charge and it worked out.
The personality of a police officer is realizing why you're there in the first place and what gave you the incentive to go there and the acceptance of your decision to go there for a job that you may or may not be comfortable with, not saying that you should be comfortable in every aspect of your life but when you hire on and give an oath, if you're going to do it you're going to do it and if you're not, best you find someplace else to be comfortable. Pick up bottles along the freeway, people do it all the time.
I’d go to work 7:30 in the morning. All of the patrolmen that worked the afternoon shifts like from 3-11 and 11-3 had made their reports on varying incidents. I pull all of those reports. I go to my office. I read them all. I determine which of my detectives handle which type case best. Part of my advice is when I put it in his opening or slot, ok? Contact me later, verbal, not a big deal, ok? The idea of contacting me later is I have a bit of a line on what you're going to have to work with and if I can share it with you and help you move your case along then fantastic.
We integrated the Hamtramck Police Department for days, a couple of days, and that was during the riot. The judges— we were driving St. Albin north, there were three black kids on a bicycle moving north, there was a car driving north. Someone reach out of the window with a baseball bat, striking at the kids. I arrested them. One, the one with the bat, Judge [?] son. Long story, that didn't go well, but strangely enough, I find Judge [?] driving drunk and I arrested him.
Solomon: Well that was in 58. The Ford Motor Company had been kind to me by giving me a job. Between the—1949 and then when I went away to the service again, and I did come back, they were kind enough to give me the job back and I had a very good experience with it. I mean it wasn’t a one way street - I worked for them, they paid me well, I was comfortable with that. And I probably had the best job that one can have in a factory. And that best job— any teenager, any young man would love it. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen an assembly line where you travel the assembly line and the cars go down the line, everybody puts on a part and at the end of that line— listen to this— it was my job to climb into the driver’s seat and drive it off the line. Can you ask for better than that?
Solomon: Now, having done that for a while, at the Lincoln Mercury Company which was located on the corner of Warren and Livernois here in the city, there was a track in back of the factory where they tested every car that they built and there was a— all of the inspectors would lay their sheets on the windshield and an inspector would drive your car around the track, point out all of the shortcomings, and park it. Well, strangely enough I got attached to an old man who had been there for a long time and just for respect I had for him, I was his driver. You can’t ask for better than that. Now then, after I went to service, Korea, I came back. They had moved that factory to Wayne, Michigan. And they were kind enough again to give me a job. There I worked putting in the interior, referred to as trim. I did them a good job and they respected my input and consequently we were each satisfied with the exchange until a few years later. My boss, who depended on me— and I know that he did, with every possible respect, we had a respect for each other— my floor man was being upgraded to Superintendent, ok? So there was a vacancy, his spot, which was up from my spot. I made an application for that job and that went back and forth and back and forth and they wind up hiring a guy from the outside. And it didn’t set well with me because they, they brought in the racial situation of it all. My— the guy that was leaving whom I had worked for for a long time and knew that I knew exactly what was necessary because I had advised him a number of times and responded to his requests for information for periods of time— knew what was going on, in my opinion participated in it. And the other guy got the job, and they brought him to me to train. I walked away. And that’s how I decided to take that application in Hamtramck.
Interviewer: So the other person that got the job was white?
Solomon: Yeah, white and dumb. He, he was from the outside. I’m not saying he was an ignorant fella. I’m saying— we’re talking about the job. He did not have what was necessary for that job at that time and they depended on me to carry the weight. Well, I walked away. Even with nothing, I walked away. I wasn’t going to go that route.
Interviewer: Did you to try to fight for the position or say that— argue with the…?
Solomon: No because I knew everybody there, everybody knew me. The idea run to the union and some point organization and jumping through some hoop— well, you know, I was not the smartest guy in the world but I was comfortable with my ability.
Interviewer: So what did you do next then after that for work?
Solomon: I took the job in Hamtramck. I went there. It was different for me, extremely different. I knew no one there but Edna and her family, no one. So I went and made application for the job, for firefighter. Repeating, I had been a fire chief and I knew that you’re given tests repeatedly and all those days when I said, you know you sat around, you didn’t just sit around, you went to the river with the fire truck and you [?] the hoses and you did all those things and I believe it was the University of Oklahoma was the mecca then for information for firefighters in the world. So I went through all of that bit and was comfortable with my ability to succeed in that area. So I went, made application for the job and making application that was the guy in charge whose name was Pete Walker. I won’t give an opinion on the guy but he’d been there for a long time, he was established and you have to respect that. Well he advised me that the city of Hamtramck had no black firefighters. He didn't know how the guys at the fire house— very words— he didn't know how the guys at the fire house would respond to it. I gave him time to think about it and thanked him and advised him that that would not be the end of that. Then he volunteered information about the police department. We are giving the exam that you— that I’m aware of, that brought me there, on the very same day, giving an exam for the police department. Why didn’t I consider taking that exam? Well if its available I’ll take it, but I’ll take the fire department as well. Sure enough down the line I got a card in the mail making these exams available to me at the Hamtramck High School on a Saturday morning. I responded to it surprised as hell that there were 500 guys there. I looked around for faces that I may recognize, found none. I went in to take the exam, I took a seat along with everyone else and wasn’t long after spiel from the guy at the front, after his talk he stated that they were going to pass out the packets, no one touch it, when he said go, open it up, we have two hours, we have the gym for two hours. And they started passing out the packets. Please recall I had made application for the fire department and the police department. Well the police department came by and— well you know what exams look like, civil service exams, probably far more streamlined today than then. Well I got one from the police department and I looked into it and bang there was another one from the fire department. Well, theres nothing for me to do but get the attention of the guy in front. He had noted that we had two hours. And there was a chatter around the room and when it quieted down he repeated his statement, we have two hours. So everyone else is working, I took the fire department and went through it. I was comfortable with it. Not only had I taken classes, I had worked— I had taught classes. So I went though it, put it aside, went through the Police which was a little strange and put it aside, went back and checked through the fire department again. And by this time the room is thinning out naturally so I took them both in hand and carried them to the front to him. I passed them to him and I left. Well if you're not familiar with it theres a series of examinations— you have an oral following that, you have a physical following that, you know you got to carry the— climb the rope, carry the 100lb sand bag, carry a person, all of that stuff. So I went through the whole thing. Strangely enough, I came around when all of the scores were in, in the police department, I was number seven— remember the 500 plus? Now I know there were 400 plus for the police department but the fire department I was number three. So I felt that I had successfully maneuvered that scale that they had set. Now comes the shocker for you. They hired four police officers, acceptable, then they hired three more police officers. I was not one of them. Fire department, remember that I was number three? They hired two. I went into the city commission and my approach to him was, “Are you aware of what has transpired here?” And he, well he went into the conversation in which I listened and when he was finished I advised him or informed him of my reason for being there and that basic reason was that he just be aware that I was aware that I was passed over. And I left. Two weeks later, I was contacted, called in, offered the job. And at that point in time their question was, “Do you still want the job? We’ve painted the picture for you here. Do you want to leave whatever you have and come here?” Well, I assured him that I wanted the job and whatever was going to be necessary then that is what I was going to do. I had a family and I needed to support for my family.
Interviewer: So then did you start shortly after that?
Solomon: Yes. Yes. Yes, there were some quirks, there was some understanding. Fortunately, I made a friend a little further down the road, but I’m indebted to him today, I’m indebted to him today. His name was Walter Belarc and I don't have a problem putting his name out there because a very strange situation happened to Walter. Long story, the friendship thing, and it wasn't so much of a buddy-buddy relationship as it was he came to rely on me to advise him in his plight because he's gotten his derriere in hot water and they were treating him like a black. And he, he relied on me for direction and in exchange he shared with me their intent and their maneuvering, maneuver plans and consequently saying this was the first time ever I was able to stay one step ahead of them. Everybody knew what was going on just no one was in a position to do anything about it and there was such a cohesive cut of politics that staying ahead of it was not easy. I don't know, the word may be cunning or taking advantage of information that was fed to me.
Interviewer: Ultimately you felt that the goal— they were trying to force you out, so that you wouldn’t be on the force?
Solomon: Oh yes, that was— for the first six months, you have no union, you have no recourse and this is where Mr. Belarc came into play with me and I decided to do whatever was necessary to do that six months.
Interviewer: So then what was your position on the force?
Solomon: When I retired?
Interviewer: Yeah.
Solomon: Chief of Detectives.
Interviewer: And what did you start as?
Solomon: Patrolman, naturally.
Solomon: Change came with me and people like me climbing the ladder and seeing and knowing what was transpiring and not tolerating it— simple as that. And again I got a few promotions and I was in position to make some changes and influence some changes and consequently things ran a bit different.
There were conflicts all over the place but being absolutely frank with you there was so much ignorance going on and everyone, everyone wants their plan to work and their little squad over here and their one politician who couldn't find his ass in broad daylight with both hands playing his little part, they were always fighting for the promotion or the accolades, always. And that wasn't black and white, I’m talking about the whites because thats basically what it was. There were a lot of blacks there that seemed to accept the status quo. They had done favors for people and people had done favors for them and their parents and other friends had contributed, doing political scenes, etc. and they were quote “proudest” and they respected a return on the investment so thats basically the way that that went.
Solomon: It was somewhat a chaotic position to have but long before I was in any degree of authority, Hamtramck was a world pit, biggest criminals in the country: the liquor runners and the dope runners and all of that big stuff was here from Chicago and just south of Hamtramck in Detroit was prevalent.
Interviewer: Was there good relationships between the police officers and the people of Hamtramck?
Solomon: When I was there the answer is basically yes. In my later years, when I was basically in charge, we had an excellent relationship, excellent, I repeat. And I keep a post office in Hamtramck, I’m a resident there, and I’m confronted in the post office, on the street, etc. with all the people telling me its not what it was when you were here. And today I see it growing in the other direction. Its a sad situation because they have such a mix, they have such a mix of nationalities and personalities there that it is difficult, it is difficult for the authorities to get a handle on. One incident, I can say that clearly because I was the investigator, an assault around Dorothy and Conant. I wont go into specifics. A guy found a guy, he had never seen him before, killed him. I did the investigation, I know. The big thing there was he was avenging a fight that his grandfather had with the other guys grandfather. That kind of thing still goes on in that area. So when you talk about policing a variety of personalities and backgrounds, this is the kind of thing you come up with that is very difficult to get a handle on.
The changes are you are not comfortable as you once were. If they call the police department and ask to speak with Detective McCormick, I can give them a time to come see me, or if it was uncomfortable all around we would agree on a place to meet and speak sincerely and openly. I don’t believe the personnel there have that camaraderie anymore. Policing is not easy. You got to be open and you got to be stern, may sound a little difficult but do what you say you're going to do and if you cant do it, deliver the message. I find myself in difficulty, I need more information, or please take note of what I said and weigh it out.
Everything that I’ve said is 99 percent about white folks because there were 99 percent white folks there. This is, this is not a, this is not a racial divide, we’re talking about Hamtramck.
Interviewer: What was it like for you in your life to go from being passed over for getting the job on the police force to becoming such a high position and being the authority?
Solomon: I didn't let that bother me. I realized who and what I was working with and at a later time I came to understand that I had the upper hand and theres no need to beat the dead horse. Now that I'm in the lead, all you can do is follow. I’m not a vindictive person but I, you know, I was in charge and now I was in charge and it worked out.
The personality of a police officer is realizing why you're there in the first place and what gave you the incentive to go there and the acceptance of your decision to go there for a job that you may or may not be comfortable with, not saying that you should be comfortable in every aspect of your life but when you hire on and give an oath, if you're going to do it you're going to do it and if you're not, best you find someplace else to be comfortable. Pick up bottles along the freeway, people do it all the time.
I’d go to work 7:30 in the morning. All of the patrolmen that worked the afternoon shifts like from 3-11 and 11-3 had made their reports on varying incidents. I pull all of those reports. I go to my office. I read them all. I determine which of my detectives handle which type case best. Part of my advice is when I put it in his opening or slot, ok? Contact me later, verbal, not a big deal, ok? The idea of contacting me later is I have a bit of a line on what you're going to have to work with and if I can share it with you and help you move your case along then fantastic.
We integrated the Hamtramck Police Department for days, a couple of days, and that was during the riot. The judges— we were driving St. Albin north, there were three black kids on a bicycle moving north, there was a car driving north. Someone reach out of the window with a baseball bat, striking at the kids. I arrested them. One, the one with the bat, Judge [?] son. Long story, that didn't go well, but strangely enough, I find Judge [?] driving drunk and I arrested him.